My name is Sandra Kane, I am registered severely sight impaired and live in Birmingham . I was born with high myopia but it wasn’t until about 20 years ago that I was made aware that this was a degenerative condition when I started to loose both peripheral and central vision . Despite the severity of my condition I still have some useful vision .
I have been nominated to represent the National Federation of the Blind of the UK on the Voice of the Listener and Viewer panel and The Disability Benefits Consortium.
I think that I have much to bring an advocate for blind and partially sighted people as a representative on these bodies both through my own lived experience and the experience I bring from my working life .
I am a trained solicitor and specialised in social welfare issues including benefits advice and representation at the lower and upper tribunals . I have also studied towards a social work qualification which involved a placement advocating for vulnerable adults .
I am a keen listener to radio particularly radio 4 and 6 and am aware of the issues that many people with sight loss have accessing BBC sounds and the impact that the changes to local radio stations has had on many people’s lives .
I also like watching tv dramas , current affairs and documentaries and am on the email list for a local blind association called ‘google box ‘ with the aim of watching and discussing dramas together .